 Per Se Restaurant Review: We wish everyone could dine by the hand of Thomas Keller, who continues to set the bar on both coasts. Per Se resides on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center, and the recognizable French Laundry blue doors welcome here too, though these are a front for fast moving glass panes which slide open instead. This entrance proves just as unforgettable; a reminder that while Per Se embodies the same principles of excellence as The French Laundry, anticipate a different transformational experience. Wood and stone tones accent, giving the decidedly sleek urban venue an earthen touch. Two nine-course menus are on tap: a chef's tasting menu and a tasting of vegetables menu. On each, Keller balances perfectionism and whimsy while dazzling taste buds. The $295 price of admission also nets you waitstaff who move with the grace of ballerinas, and, at the same time, articulate Keller's vision --- carefully seen-to details like sea salt presented with select courses, and custom-made china. But the gorgeous flavor combinations, like butter-poached Nova Scotia lobster, serrano ham, red pepper “ravioli,” picholine olives, arugula, fennel panade and chickpea “vierge,” steal the show. The 2,100-bottle wine list does its part to astound as well, a true connoisseur's collection with plenty of affordable choices and a welcome selection of 200 half bottles. Give yourself over to sommelier Michel Couvreux, and you'll thrill to the series that follows. Desserts like the “île flottante” --- steamed meringue, blood orange soda and pistachio ice cream --- are just the beginning to the end of the seemingly nonstop procession. They are followed by mignardises, chocolates, a treat packed to-go and the lingering memories of what portends to be one of the world's finest dining experiences. A five-course lunch menu ($185) is also available, as is an à la carte Salon menu.
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Per Se Restaurant is one of GAYOT's 2013
| Top 10 NY Wine List Restaurants
| Top 10 NY Food Rating Restaurants
| Top 10 NY Special Occasion Restaurants
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Watch GAYOT's exclusive interview with chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry on GAYOT.com's YouTube Channel 
Visit the photo gallery of Per Se
Thomas Keller is GAYOT's 2013 Best Restaurateur in the U.S.
Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area.
